Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Should scientists be turning gay sheep straight?

Editor's note (10 January 2007):

Jim Newman, from the Oregon Health and Science University, has contacted the blog to set us straight about this post, so our thanks to him. He writes:

"Your post is wrong because we have never tried to make gay sheep straight. It is based on a Sunday Times article which is the source of all these wild conspiracy theories. It was filled with errors. In some cases the paper even reported the exact opposite of what actually occurred. In reality, the research was conducted five years ago. When announced in 2002, several gay and lesbian groups appreciated the findings as the data supports the belief that homosexuality has biological roots and is not merely a matter of choice."

Jim also provides a link to an article which heavily criticises the Sunday Times for publishing the original story and alleges that PETA, the animal rights group, played a role.

What's annoying for us is that we reported the original research at the time, see Homosexuality is biological, suggests gay sheep study. There is another more recent paper in the journal Endocrine but this does not support the claims of the Sunday Times article. From the abstract: "Prenatal ATD exposure did not interfere with defeminization of adult sexual partner preferences". i.e. changing hormone levels in the womb did not alter the sexual preference of the adult rams. The abstract suggests higher levels of ATD might do so, but that work has not been done. So our apologies for a poor post – our baaaaaad.

By altering the brain hormone levels, scientists have stemmed this homosexual tendency in the rams and made them prefer females. Researchers say that the project aims to explore ways of increasing herd productivity – they stress it does not seek to cure the animals of homosexual tendencies.

Some people worry that the sheep research will eventually give rise to pre-natal tests that enable couples to determine the likely sexual orientation of their offspring.

But I think that a perhaps more obvious outcome of this type of research might be hormone treatments for homosexual individuals who feel desperate to become heterosexual. To me, however, the idea of a hormone patch for homosexuality sounds unhealthy, unnecessary and truly queer. What do you think?

I think it is great that scientists developed their researches that far, - but it is not wrong for a homosexual person to want to be heterosexuals. Its like when a person feels prisoned in a body he/she doesnt feel comforteble with. It is always good that there is possiblities but it is up to individuals to decide what to do.Of course it could be used as a weapon and forced on people but now it is a really small chance with all freedom and help u can get on this planet.

Jim Newman here from the university that is actually conducting the research.

Guess what - many of the stories about this research are false and based on a Sunday Times article filled with errors and incorrect statements. In some cases the paper even reported the exact opposite of what actually occurred. Here the New Scientist repeats some of that false info - we did not attempt to or "cure" gay sheep.

In reality – the research was conducted five years ago. When announced in 2002, several gay and lesbian groups appreciated the findings as the data supports the belief that homosexuality has biological roots and is not merely a matter of choice.

I am pleased that a writer has thoroughly investigated the article. As he reports, the Sunday Times article basically a piece of science fiction made up by PETA, yes the animal rights people.

His analysis also raises important questions about the timing of the article which again comes almost five years after the research was actually conducted.

Here’s a link to that analysis that anyone who is interested in this topic should read:

A wolf in gay sheep's clothing: Corruption at the London Timeshttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/4/134158/4348

Also the press is beginning to print stories on how this science research was hijacked by PETA, the left and the right for political gain.

Here’s one story:If only British press would say, 'My baa-d'http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=116829766709316800

In the end, at least for people, it is all about choices. I think this is like any other research that opens possibilities for people to exercise more choices. Gay people who want to become straight straight would have a choice, but equally perhaps straight people who want to be gay may also be able to alter their hormones to live that experience. Science still needs to answer the big question why "gay genes" have surrived evolution.

Congratulations. I am so relieved to know that there is a possibility to be heterosexual. I do have gay feelings and am unable to enter a heterosexual relationship because of that. If these findings can be extened to humans as an option I think it should be allowed. NOT ALL gay people want to be gay. Please ignore any criticism to downplay this study and go right ahead at top speed. I for one would find peace and happiness because of this study

THis work should definitely be continued. In fact, no genuine scientific inquiry should be abandoned for merely political reasons; how does having options hurt in the long run? There is another theory that homosexuals are a dying breed anyway seeing as how there are fewer and fewer sham marriages that keep perpetuating the "gay" gene. Homosexuals pursue their natural tendencies these days and don't have to be confined to a closet or fake-marriage. On another note, If this is true we sure will have fewer great pianists to listen to in the future (After careful study I'd say 85% of the legendary, classical pianists were gay)

There is a lot of wow gold in the game and you can try your best to earn them as much as you can.You only want to get more and more World of Warcraft Gold to let you become strong, so you can go to upgrade and kill the monsters alone.It is the beautiful new beginning of the game, and I like the warcraft gold I want to satisfy you too.However you can also go to buy wow gold alone or with your friends together.You can change them through the cheap wow gold. Yet the freedom you seek is as close as the next moment.